ASU can't find offense in ugly loss to Utah

Published Jan. 21, 2012 4:31 p.m. ET

foxsports

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Cedric Martin scored 17 points and Chris Hines added 14 as the two combined to hit nine 3-pointers to lead Utah 64-43 victory over the Arizona State on Saturday.

Kareem Storey scored 12 points while Jason Washburn chipped in 10 points and six rebounds for Utah. The Utes (5-14, 2-5 Pac-12) triumphed after the dismissal of former starting point guard Josh Watkins earlier in the week. Utah shot 53 percent from both the field and the 3-point line.

Arizona State (6-13, 2-5) scored its fewest points this season after shooting just 32 percent from the field in the second half. Carrick Felix led the Sun Devils with 13 points while Kyle Cain and Jordan Bachynski added 10 points apiece.

Utah had no trouble finding its shot from the opening tip. Chris Hines and Jason Washburn each scored a pair of baskets to help Utah score the game's first 12 points. At the same time, Arizona State missed six of its first seven shots and made just one 3-pointer in the first half.

Cain scored a pair of layups to help ASU claw back to within single digits at 26-17. Utah quickly answered with a 10-2 spurt - capped by consecutive 3-pointers from Martin - to carve out a 36-19 lead with 2:07 left in the first half.

ASU's scoring drought continued in the second half when it went eight minutes without scoring. Utah took advantage to go on an 11-0 run to take a 49-21 lead. Hines fueled the spurt with a pair of 3-pointers.

Dave Whitmore hit a jumper with 12 minutes left in the game for ASU's first points of the second half.